(Natural News) Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) could soon be playing a therapeutic role in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatments. According to researcher and public health nutritionist Dr. Emma Derbyshire, these fatty acids are "an effective and safe treatment" for this common neurodevelopmental disorder.

This was the conclusion Derbyshire came to in her major review article, published in the Journal of Lipids. For the purposes of her research, Derbyshire analyzed 16 studies that focused on the impact of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on ADHD symptoms. Of the randomized control trials scrutinized, 13 (81.25 percent) revealed that PUFAs positively affected the various symptoms of ADHD. These observable changes included better attention, enhanced working and short-term memory, and decreased impulsiveness and hyperactivity.

One study in particular presented very interesting results. Children between the ages of six to 12 who were receiving omega-3/6 fatty acid supplements not only showed signs of reduced ADHD symptoms, but didn't require high doses of methylphenidate (MPH) for over a year, as well. Also known as Ritalin, MPH is a stimulant most commonly prescribed to treat ADHD. The omega-3/6 fatty acid supplements (Equazen) given to the children consisted of 558 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 174 mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and 60 mg of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). This 9:3:1 ratio of essential fatty acids was deemed to be the most beneficial.

"It is well-known that children with ADHD have lower fatty acid levels in their blood than those without the condition," Derbyshire told the DailyMail.co.uk. "The debilitating disorder affects children's daily ability to function, learn, and interact with peers. And at present, families have very limited options for what they can do at home to improve their child's behavior and learning as most specialized diets are ineffective."